Nacada blames religious chiefs for failed projectAff

Addict using a needle to inject drug on his leg. Photo/ Charles

The programme to provide drug users at the Coast with needles and syringes failed because of propaganda from religious leaders. National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority said wananchi resisted the programme because of the distrust planted in their minds.
“It is unfortunate that some religious leaders went against the programme peddling propaganda without making any inquiries about the project,” said Nacada director Sheikh Juma Ngao.
The programme involved supplying drug addicts with syringes and needle to reduce the rate of HIV/Aids transmission among them. Speaking to the press on Sunday, Ngao said each addict would have been given a kit which contains a syringe, needle and methanol. The programme was to be a pilot project and had been copied from other developed countries where it has been successful.
“Some people thought the project was helping the youth continue to abuse drugs not knowing that the kit included a medical substance that helps cut down the addiction appetite (the methanol),” he said. He said more rehabilitation centres should be built in regions where drug use is rampant.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-112738/nacada-blames-religious-chiefs-failed-project